On the Boston Bruins …
Ty Anderson of 985 The Sports Hub: Bruins GM Don Sweeney said that the draft combine that he’ll be talking with pending unrestricted free agent Rick Nash‘s camp again.
“Rick – we’re going to have follow up conversations this week. I plan to talk to again and have a, hopefully, have a clear understanding of where necessarily lands,” Sweeney offered. “Rick indicated when he came to Boston that he was excited about the opportunity. He wants to win. He wants an opportunity to win. He felt badly, and certainly he’s not responsible for this, because he got injured. It took away a little juice from him.”
Nash missed the Bruins final 12 regular season games with a concussion. In 12 playoff games, he scored three goals on 39 shots and recorded two assists.
The free agent market is thin and their internal options on the right-side are limited.
“We feel that our top six – I think Rick Nash from a size and puck protection standpoint, gave us something that was maybe missing in that regard, so we’re cognizant of it.”
The Bruins may try to get Nash on a short, cap-friendly deal by selling the chance to win.
Michael Tolvo and Mark Garbino of BostonBruins.com: The Bruins still haven’t decided on whether they want to bring Tommy Wingels back next season or not.
“Haven’t decided on Tommy,” said Sweeney. “We’re trying to figure out – that’s another right shot, so where they all fit together. But again, in a depth role, in a situation – in the right situation – he could.”
Forward Austin Czarnik spent most of the season in the AHL (69 points) and is a pending unrestricted free agent. He may be looking for an opportunity to get more NHL time.
“We’ve had discussions with Austin,” said Sweeney. “I think Austin is intrigued by what may exist elsewhere. We certainly haven’t closed the door. I don’t think he has as well, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t get to at least see what may present itself as options for him.”
GM Don Sweeney hopes to avoid salary arbitration with RFAs Sean Kuraly and Matt Grzelcyk.
Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston: The Bruins don’t select until the 57th pick in the draft after sending their first-round pick to the NY Rangers for Rick Nash.
The Bruins interviewed 80 potential draft picks at the combine. They wouldn’t mind getting back into the first-round. Sweeney did say it won’t be easy to do.
“As everybody gets approaching toward the draft itself and going through the interviews, it gets hard,” Sweeney said. “I’d had previous discussions, and whether or not those change between now and after interviews and such, we’ll have to find out in the next couple weeks.
“I do think it will be difficult, yeah, but there are teams with multiple picks. You never know what some team may want to do based on where everybody’s really at, or will have, coming out of this, their amateur and pro meetings. Things kind of take shape within your own team and what your teams are .”